The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(50)

“The world is utter shit, Finn and I feel like the entire thing is sitting on my shoulders.” Jala returned with a heavy sigh but the bitterness was gone from her voice.

“It is, but you are strong enough to support it, Lady Bendazzi.” Finn said with a wink. He stood slowly and pulled her to her feet before releasing her hands grudgingly. “You get the Immortals in line, and I will handle the Aspects. By the time the council comes around Sanctuary will know peace.” He promised.

“I will do what I can.” Jala agreed with slight nod. She knew he was about to leave, but she forced herself to remain calm. There was a part of her that was screaming for her to cling to him, but she silenced it without a second thought. He had come to terms with their fate, and it was her turn to face the truth. He had lied, but as he said it was for the best. For months she had been eaten with guilt, and kicking herself for not seeing the truth sooner, and in under an hour Finn had banished it all. He was right. There was no other path they could have followed that would have ended happily. The one they were on could, if she could hold it all together. She wouldn’t have Finn beside her, but Legacy would have a world of peace to grow in and a childhood that he could look back on and smile about.

Finn took a step closer and kissed her gently on the forehead. Silently he stepped back once more and placed a hand under her chin tilting her head upward just enough to stare into her eyes. “Thank you, Jala. Thank you for every time you have saved me, and thank you for doing everything you have done to save everyone else. You are and always will be my moral compass, and whenever you doubt yourself in the future remember that. Promise me one thing though before I go.”

“What’s that?” Jala asked quietly. She could feel tears stinging at her eyes once again, but it wasn’t the painful grief she had been bottling inside so long. It was sadness, but it was also a form of healing. She knew once these tears ran out that a weight would be off of her chest and it was possible that she would be able to see the path forward again.

“Promise me you will remember that you aren’t standing alone up here. I may not be beside you, but the others are and they love you as much as I do. Valor, Vaze, Sovann, Wisp, Jail, and Neph, They are always there to support you all you have to do is turn to them.” Finn said.

“You forgot Shade.” Jala pointed out through a sniffle.

“I meant to forget Shade. I don’t like Shade.” Finn replied with a faint smile.

“Shade is the one that suggested I talk to you. I knew I should, but I was afraid to.” Jala added and wiped her face with the back of her hand.

“Fine then, I’ll include Shade. My point is that while the world may be sitting on your shoulders right now, you have friends that will help you bear the weight if you allow them to.” Finn said as he took a step back from her and lowered his hand from her chin.

“Do you have that in your life, Finn? Do you have anyone to brace you?” Jala asked before he had a chance to take another step. She didn’t want him to be alone, and just knowing that he wasn’t would ease her mind further.

“I have my Grandfather, and a few others I can turn to. I’m not alone Jala, and I’m not suffering. I know what I’m doing is necessary and that eases the burden.” He smiled at her and winked again. “My shoulders are pretty sturdy too, Jala. I am strong enough to face the road ahead, and if I ever find myself at an utter loss I know I have someone up here that will listen and help me through it.”

“Always. I will always be here if you need me.” Jala promised.

“I know you will be. Take care, Jala, and don’t be too hard on Seth when he shows up to apologize. He is trying to find the right path he just really sucks at navigation.” Finn took another step back and the shadows began to grow around him.

“I won’t be. Good bye Finn.” She watched him fade from the room and sank back to the floor once more. Marrow rose from where he had been laying and moved to her side. Swallowing heavily she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his thick white fur.

“Will you be able to find peace now?” Marrow asked and she could feel his concern through their bond.

“The possibility is a lot more likely now. I needed that Marrow. There was so much that was left unsaid between us. I think what I needed more than anything was to be able to say good bye.” Jala replied through her tears. Now all she had to do was face everything else the day had in store for her. There was a chance though that by the end of the day she might be able to actually sleep without the weight of her guilt suffocating her. “I have a lot more to do before I can guarantee it though. We will see how everything else goes.”

“He left out the most important name on that list. He didn’t say my name, and no matter what the world throws at you I will be at your side. Even if you decide to say screw them all and burn it all to the ground to start over you will have my support without question.” Marrow informed her firmly.

“He didn’t mention you because he didn’t need to. It goes without saying that you are my strength and he knows that. It’s the rest that I tend to forget to lean on. You are my anchor, Marrow.” Jala returned with a smile. She turned her head slightly and stared into his golden eyes without loosening her grip on him in the slightest. “Such as now for example, I am leaning on you and you are holding me together and giving me the strength I will need for the rest of the day.” She slowly unlaced her fingers from his fur and stood. With a quiet sigh she brushed the dust from her dress and straightened the skirts. “And next I will be facing Valor. He deserves answers and I have so much to apologize to him for. I have been so horrible to him recently and he is still beside me despite it all.”